Japanese government is set to revise the Official Development Assistance Charter for the first time since 2003, changing its name to “Development Cooperation Charter.” The government draft stipulates Asia as the key region as well as allows the government to assist non-ODA recipients. The administration intends to help infrastructure development especially in Southeast Asia and regional development including disaster-relief and poverty reduction in cooperation with local stakeholders.

The government plans to finalize the Charter in the cabinet meeting by the end of the year after a public consultation that is currently undertaken. The present Charter, first developed in 1992, specifies principals and basic rules of ODA. A major aim of the revised Charter is to shift from “providing assistance” to “cooperating with equal partners.” It also aims to develop a strategic promotion for Japanese businesses’ overseas penetration.

The new Charter will include policies of assisting such countries as Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and South Asian countries with infrastructure development and improvement of investment climate. (2014/10/30)